Our authorsThe Top HR and Government experts

S. Chris Edmonds is a sought-after speaker, author, and executive consultant. He’s the founder and CEO of The Purposeful Culture Group, which he launched in 1990. Chris helps senior leaders build and sustain purposeful, positive, productive work cultures. He is the author or co-author of seven books, including Amazon bestsellers Good Comes First (2021) with Mark Babbitt, The Culture Engine (2014), and Leading at a Higher Level (2008) with Ken Blanchard.

A resident of Waterbury, CT, Valerie received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Connecticut. She also earned her Master in Public Administration degree from the John P. Burke School of Public Service at Post University in Waterbury, CT in May 2014. In her time at Post University, she participated in CDCOLOGY, a student based research program managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She earned several awards and distinctions for her work and participation in this program. The program supported her ability to solve complex issues, provide project management assistance, and support with health policy and budgeting concerns. It also permitted her work to be evaluated by CDC policy analysts. Valerie has also received a Statement of Accomplishment with Distinction from The World Bank Group in Delivering Better Services with Public-Private Partnerships. She is a member of Post University’s MPA Alumni Mentorship Program in which she guides students with their Capstone projects prior to their Dissertation and completion of the MPA program. Valerie joined The Center for Economic Policy and Development, Inc. as a Director in March 2015. In her tenure, she was responsible for the overall strategic and operational functions, including the development of programs, initiatives, projects, and execution of the mission. She also maintained a commitment to the leadership, management, communications, planning, and new business development of the organization. Valerie is currently the CEO and owner of Valerie Martinelli Consulting, LLC. in which she offers Life, Leadership, and Career coaching for women as well as various Management and Human Resource consulting services such as program development, management, and evaluation, human resource audits, and employee handbook and other policy developments. Valerie is also the Founder of Innovate 50/50, a gender equality initiative based on mentorship for women and advocacy for equal rights. She is also the Host of Innovate Women, a monthly Twitter chat which discusses current events, the workplace, the business world, social media, and more that affect women. Most recently, she has joined the expert panel of Women’s Media Center She Source.

David Ivers is from Sydney, Australia. He is a qualified Primary and Secondary School Teacher. In total, he has served on school leadership teams for 16 years in senior leadership roles which include: Religious Education Coordinator, Curriculum Coordinator, and Leader of Pedagogy. He is currently a System Leader with Sydney Catholic Schools (Sydney, Australia), where he serves as Specialist: Religious Leadership. With studies in Anthropology / Sociology, Curriculum, Online Learning and Teaching, Information Communications Technology, Religious Education and Theology, Leadership, Communication, Policy Studies, Business, Management, and Educational Administration, he brings a diversity of skills and knowledge to the educational and leadership arena. In 2014 David Ivers completed the program “Improving Schools: The Art of Leadership” at Harvard Graduate School of Education. He has completed a (Graduate Level) Certificate in Executive Leadership from Cornell University and holds a Master of Educational Administration from the University of New South Wales, Australia. David completed the Company Directors’ Course and has since become a Graduate the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and is a Fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders (Australia and New Zealand) (FIML). He is also a Fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute (Great Britain and Ireland) (FRAI). A bibliography of his published papers can be found at: https://about.me/david.ivers

Amy Wilks is an editor, content manager, and professional writer who creates and manages online content for small businesses across the nation. When she is not attached to her computer she can be found in front of an easel, adding chapters to her new book, or spending quality time with her husband and seven children. She takes pride in providing encouragement, support, and inspiration to the people in her community and has dedicated her life to making a difference in the lives of others.

Marnie E. Green, Principal Consultant, is the nation’s go-to expert in the development of public sector leaders. She has spent the last 25 years providing valuable step-by-step presentations and programs that create more confident government leaders. Along the way she has served as an executive coach to numerous public leaders at the highest levels. Green is the author of Painless Performance Evaluations: A Practical Approach to Managing Day-to-Day Employee Performance, published by Pearson/Prentice Hall as well as Painless Performance Conversations: A Practical Approach to Critical Day-to-Day Workplace Discussions published by Wiley.

American Public University System, winner of the Online Learning Consortium's (OLC) Ralph E. Gomory Award for Quality Online Education and four-time recipient of the OLC's Effective Practice Award, offers more than 90 online degree programs through American Military University and American Public University. APUS's relevant curriculum, affordability and flexibility help more than 100,000 working adults worldwide pursue degrees in a diverse variety of subjects. Posts are written by APUS career coaches and faculty members.

Stan Skipworth is the Assistant Vice President of Safety at the Claremont Colleges, which include: Harvey Mudd College, Pomona College, Claremont McKenna College, Scripps College, Claremont Graduate University and the Keck Graduate Institute. Stan also serves as a public policy/public safety consultant and legislative advisor for state and national campus law enforcement professional organizations. Stan was selected among Security Magazine's "Most Influential People in Security" in 2017, and was named Campus Safety Magazine's "Director of the Year" in 2016. A Past President of the California Association of Councils of Governments, Stan is a former Mayor of the City of Corona (CA) and was a member of its City Council from 2006-2014; and is Police Chief Emeritus of California State University, Long Beach. Stan enjoys traveling throughout the United States, reading–particularly on the subject of philosophy–and music. Stan and his wife of 29 years, Michell, have eight children, ages 11-25. For their continued support of young people in the Southern California region, Stan and Michell have been honored with the Angels in Adoption Award presented by the United States Congress; have received the YMCA’s Victor Award; and have been recognized by several local organizations.

Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, CERW, CEMC, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, named one of Forbes "Top 100 Career Websites". She is a nationally published writer and contributor of 16 best-selling career books. She and her team of talented, certified writers have achieved international recognition following yearly nominations of the prestigious T.O.R.I. Award (Toast of the Resume Industry). She is also one of only a few professionals worldwide to achieve the coveted “Certified Master Resume Writer” distinction. Erin and her team of writers have written thousands of resumes for every career level and every industry.

Robin Woolen, MBA, IGP has worked in the field of information lifecycle management since 1994 with a specialty in strategic consulting focused on enterprise-scale information management systems. His career includes both Public and Private sectors with a client list from the nation’s top 25 cities and the Fortune 500. Mr. Woolen is a recognized leader in the field of information governance and a national speaker teaching others how to improve their own programs. Mr. Woolen holds a Masters of Business Administration in Management of Information Systems from Park University and is a certified Information Governance Professional from ARMA International, the authority on governing information as a strategic asset.

Former Liverpool architect Liam Ryan was diagnosed with “one of the worst cases” of head and neck cancer ever seen at Aintree University Hospital in 2002. But with world-class medical expertise and the support of his friends and family, he managed to beat the illness – and now he’s written a book about it titled “Cancer 4 Me 5 (after extra time)”.

David Shindler is a coach, facilitator, speaker, and blogger on jobs, careers and employability development. He is the author of “Learning to Leap, a Guide to Being More Employable”. He has been quoted in Forbes and MSN, and listed as a top career blogger by YouTern and Career Sherpa. David coaches you to be clearer, more confident and purposeful so you take the job and career actions that are right for you.